When did you stop breastfeeding?

Question

My daughter is 14 months old and I'm doing some major weaning. My first daughter was easy to wean, but this girl, yikes, she is persistant and she knows what she wants. I am ready to be done breastfeeding, but after two painful attempts, I'm hesistant. She's down to a BIG morning feeding (at 5:30) and a small-medium bedtime feeding. My family, friends, and even the doctor say it's time. When did you stop and how did you do it? Did it make sleeping through the night easier? It's amazing how different kids can be!

Answer 1

I stopped with my son at 14 months. (Still at it now with my daughter, 7 months.) I would stop the morning feed. She will be hungry first thing in the morning and will probably take anything. If not, it won't take but a couple mornings before she gives in. Anyways, warm up some breast milk in her sippy cup. After about a week (or less) warm up cow's milk in a sippy cup. Gradually wean her to the cow's milk. This will make her nighttime feeding even easier to drop, and may make her reluctant to wake you up at 5:30am, Garrhh!!!! You may start to see it's because of habit and the security she gets from you. You can even go in there and read her a story or sing to her while she's drinking from her cup, and then stop the milk altogether and just lull her back to sleep. GL!!

Answer 2

I weaned my daughter when she was ready to wean. I would have been fine with it if she was ready sooner, but they really won't nurse forever if you don't forcibly wean them. They will wean themselves.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with continuing nursing, even though everyone tells you "it's time". There's no reason for them to say that.

Use your own judgement; If you are hesitant, then maybe you aren't as ready as you think. My readiness was tied to hers. After 16mo I was waiting for her to wean.

I found the early am and pm feedings to be such a small thing for me and a huge thing for her. She slept really well at night too. She is the most independent soul I know now, maybe because SHE was part of this early decision.

She nursed until she was 4.5yo, but by then it was maybe bedtime just a few times a week. If I wasn't home at bedtime she was fine without it and one day she just said, "OK, I'm done".

Answer 3

My first daugter I breastfeed till 21 months ( I was pregnant and wanted my breasts back for at least a month before I started all over again), but my daughter was already starting to wean herself. So I gave her a bottle with milk in it.
My second daughter I breastfeed till about 2 and 1/2 years, with her she wasnt going to stop so after trying not to feed her, leaving her with my Mum overnight didnt work. I had to tell her that boobie was broken, and there was no more milk.
Breastfeeding didnt effect sleeping through the night as both my kids slept through even while feeding.
I dont think your daughters ready to stop yet, why dont you give her a bit more time, its only two feeds. My kids were drinking way more than that.

Answer 4

Why is the doctor saying it's time? The World Health Organization says nurse at least 2 years, Marie Montessori said nurse at least 3 years, to continue to give the child the closeness she needs, La Leche League encourages nursing until the child wishes to wean, and points out that if humans nursed as all the other primates do, we'd nurse 4 - 7 years. So why is your doctor saying this? And why are your family members and friends speaking for your daughter?

I know lots and lots of moms who nursed several children past age 4. These kids are the brightest, the most self-confident, and the most gentle and caring kids around. I"ve watched them grow from birth to teens, a group I woulda thought really weird 20 years ago, a group I know now represents the most natural and advantageous mothering.

I don't know what it means to denigrate nursing as being your baby's pacifier. Personally, I find pacifiers distasteful and a substitute for good mothering.

If your infant/toddler sleeps with you, nighttime nursing is not a hassle at all, but another great communication, mothering, health check tool. And you barely have to wake up at all!

Answer 5

I weaned my first child at 15 months! First I cut out day nursing. I did the night time last since he was STILL waking up around every 3 hours to nurse! I gave him a sippy cup of water every time he wanted to nurse. It took about a week. THe first night, he was a little upset, but drank from the cup and fell back asleep! Each night got easier! Before too long, he was sleeping through the night.

I am still nursing my 9 month old.

Answer 6

My daughter was the same, and that's why she's still nursing (just once a day though - my limit, she'd nurse more if I let her) at age three. I'm hoping that she will wean on her own eventually, but I fear I'm going to have to force the issue at some point. I'd like her to be done by the time she's four, but all I'll say for sure is that she will absolutely not be nursing when it's time for her to start kindergarten.

She is a fantastic sleeper and has been for years. She started sleeping through the night back when she was still nursing on demand.

Nursing longer won't hurt your daughter - it is actually good for kids. But at that age it is not necessary or as important ot health as when they are younger, so weaning is okay too if that is what you feel is best for yourself. Just be gentle about it.

Answer 7

I weaned my daughter at 2 years of age. I thought it would be harder than it was. It took one day. What I did is a little funny, but hey, it worked. I put those little round band-aids over my nipples and told my daughter that "nurse is owie." And she didn't want to hurt me, so she didn't nurse anymore after she thought they were owie. To answer your other questions...no it did not make the nights any easier, they still wake up. I think 14 months is too early to wean a child, they still need the security that breastfeeding gives a child. I would wait until the child is 2. That is unless you are absolutely ready to stop, for your sanity. Then you need to take care of you first, in order to take care of your baby properly. If you are convinced that you need to wean now, try the circle band-aid thing. It may work for you as well as it did for me.. Good luck..

Answer 8

I breastfed my daughter until she was 2 years. She pretty much weaned herself. My personal opinion is to breastfeed until they are ready to stop. My daughter was down to a morning, naptime and bedtime feeding by 18 months, then she only nursed at naptime for the last 2 months. You are already down to 2 feedings a day, so maybe your daughter will wean herself soon. Good luck!

Answer 9

My daughter breastfed until 14 months too, she was on full time solids and I couldn't give her cow milk because she was allergic, anyway I noticed that she wanted to nurse around nap time for comfort and the thought of weaning her broke my heart, so I started telling her that she was a big girl now and that the "Boo-boo" as she call it wasn't good anymore and would make weird faces, she started getting it until she didn't wanted anymore. I never let her "cry it out", her Doctor told me that it wasn't hurting her in any way so I didn't need to feel obligated to do it until she was about ready,good luck.

Answer 10

I started to wean my son at 26 mths and totally weaned him at 28 months. he was a bit sad at first and wanted to nurse to sleep, but He slowly got used to the bottel at night and at the childcare I sent him in the mornings, he saw other children happily drinking from the bottle or cup, so I guess peer pressure and positive encouragement does help.It was hard for me too. It had become a habit to sleep with him. Now he's even started sleeping on his own bed at 32 mths with his older brother 4 yrs old. They both enjoy each others company now. All the best!